Set List:

Malagueña - Ernesto Lecuona and Marian Banks, arr. Story

Ballad for a Blue Horn - Mike Steinel

French Quarter Funk - Charlton Underwood, arr. Zachary Smith

Birdland - Josef Zawinul, arr. John Berry 

Roster:

Flute: Jaya Dixit, Abhay Maranganti, Leivi Sales

Clarinet: Jordan Polikoff

Alto Sax: Audrey Kaim, Xavier Gentsch, Miriam Patton

Tenor Sax: Christian Patillo, Jesse Vaytsman 

Baritone Sax: Atreya Bhatt 

Trumpet: Tripp Lawrence, Louise Rotman, John Schmidt, Luke Seaman, Joseph Siegel

French Horn: Abbie Fishman

Trombone: Asher Beachler, Adam Schmotzer, Lucas Thompson

Baritone: Rian Xiong 

Tuba: Brennan Lepene

Piano: Philip Rodenborn

Guitar: Nathan Miller

Bass: Nolan Martincic

Percussion: Armaan Chepyala, Jack Johnson, Sam Melvey, Ben Morrissey, Adam Novik, Jordan Page, Will Russo, Olivia Schartman, Scarlett Young

School/Program Information:

The Brady Jazz Band is a non-auditioned group made up of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from Brady Middle School in Pepper Pike, Ohio. Brady Middle School serves approximately 425 students in grades 6 through 8. Over 40% of the middle school is enrolled in our band program. The Brady Jazz Band begins rehearsing in early October, and practices through the end of the school year. The Brady Jazz Band rehearses once a week after school. In addition to performing at Brady middle school band concerts, the Jazz Band has also performed at community events, including performances for the Lander Circle Kiwanis Club and at the Quicken Loans Arena for the Cleveland Monsters hockey team.

Director Bio:

Jake Robinson is the associate band director and middle school general music teacher for the Orange City School District, and has been with the district since 2015. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music and his Master of Music Education degree from Kent State University. At Orange High School, Mr. Robinson is the associate director of the marching band in the fall, directs the Symphonic Band, and also directs the pit orchestra for the annual spring musical. Mr. Robinson teaches beginning band at Moreland Hills Elementary School and the Jazz Band at Brady Middle School. In addition to band, Mr. Robinson teaches the History of Rock and Roll course at the high school and general music courses at Brady Middle School, where students learn music history, music technology, guitar, and composition. 

Set List: 

Moanin’ - Bobby Timmons, arr. Mark Taylor

Latin Lesson - Mike Carubia

Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock, arr. Jerry Nowak

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - Josef Zawinul, arr. Paul Jennings

Roster:

Flute: Sara Kumar, Kathryn Roush, Eva Zheng

Clarinet: Miriam Gilmore, So Eun Kang, Amber Zhang

Alto Sax: Ritika Iyer, Michael Karas, Arpith Prasad

Tenor Sax: Sumeet Chakravarti, Dirck Van Tassel

Bari Sax: Griffin Preisler

Trumpet: Eden Cohen, Maxwell Kuenzler, Lauren Nagy-Oleski, Eric Paul

Trombone: Joseph Coffey, Vega Craig, Itamar Gabay, Mirica Woodley

Piano: Chengyu Li, Mattie Spaller

Guitar: Noah Isaacson

Bass: Eli Posa

Percussion: Mayer Bergman, Alex Bravo, Vivian Buzzard, Chengyu Li, Nishan Shrestha, Mattie Spaller 

School/Program Information:

Beachwood City Schools, a distinguished suburban district in Cuyahoga County, serves approximately 1,500 students across five schools: Fairmount Early Childhood Center (PreK), Bryden Elementary (K-2), Hilltop Elementary (3-5), Beachwood Middle School (6-8), and Beachwood High School (9-12). Guided by the mission to “develop intellectual entrepreneurs with a social conscience,” the district has earned three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards and the highest rating of "Excellent" from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Beachwood's dedication to arts education is nationally recognized, having been named among the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants for 18 consecutive years. Beachwood High School offers a comprehensive curriculum with 27 Advanced Placement and 20 Honors-level courses. The Class of 2023 boasted an average SAT score of 1236 with 80% of graduates pursuing higher education.

The Instrumental music program in the Beachwood City Schools includes students in grades 3 to 12.  Our program includes grade level ensembles from Grades 3 to 8 and one mixed grade level Concert Band at the High School.  Students in the Band Program at the High School level also participate in Marching Band during the fall and have the option of participating in our Jazz Band that meets once a week after school.  

The BHS Jazz Band performs at BHS Concerts, School and Community Events, and last year hosted The Dan Zola Orchestra as an Artist in Residence for an event titled “In Full Swing”.

Director Bio:

David Luddington is the Band Director for grades 6 to 12 in the Beachwood City Schools.  He is in his 16th year as a music educator and 12th year with the Beachwood.  His responsibilities with the Beachwood Schools include grade level ensembles at Beachwood Middle School and the Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Music Theory at the High School.  He is a brass specialist with trumpet as a primary instrument and he holds degrees from Ohio University and Cleveland State University.  Ensembles directed by Mr. Luddington have performed in Chicago, Nashville, Orlando, Memphis, and New Orleans.  Mr. Luddington is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association.

Set List:

Panic Button - Larry Barton

In the Mood - arr. Lavender

Earth, Wind & Fire Mix - arr. Murtha

Hey Pachuco - arr. Porter

Roster:

Alto Sax: Gordon Mahoney, Casey Petrovic, Emily Vieira, Ava Ayres, Emily Fousek, Bella Zaffiro

Tenor Sax: Ada Noernberg, Eve Carty

Bari Sax: Evan Muhvic, Brady Obratil

Trumpet: Ellie Furst, Amanda Jarrett, Kurt Liedtke, Matthew Bailey, Joe Stumpf, Adam Fousek, Eric Liedtke, Wolfi Mueller, Julia Palecek

Trombone: Andrew Elias, Sam Taurasi, Owen McCall, Ryan Rainey, Stuart Lukacsko

Guitar: Thomas Hensley

Bass Guitar: Stuart Lukacsko, Lauren Palecek, Cassia Rogers

Drumset: Max Schaffer, Colin Janson, Zack Zebrowski

Aux Rhythm Section: Ryan Berdis, Parker Pacifico

School/Program Information:

West Geauga School District is located in Geauga County and encompasses the townships of Chester, Russell, and some sections of Munson. West Geauga High School is a four-year, comprehensive, public high school, with an enrollment of approximately 750 students. West Geauga was one of Newsweek’s National List of Top 500 Schools in 2016, and was included on the Washington Post’s List of America’s most challenging High Schools in 2017. 

The band program at West Geauga begins in 5th grade, and includes three middle school bands, as well as two high school concert bands. Students can also participate in marching band, middle school jazz band, and high school jazz band, as well as various pep bands and community performances throughout the year. 

The jazz band starts in mid-October, rehearses one day a week before school, and performs at all West Geauga band concerts. The jazz band also performs at a benefit concert in collaboration with our school’s Interact program. 

Director Bio:

Jason Branch is in his 14th year teaching at West Geauga. His duties include team-teaching all middle school bands, conducting the High School Symphonic Band, and high school music theory classes, as well as directing the marching band and jazz bands. Groups under his direction have performed at Ohio State University, Cleveland State University, Severance Hall, Disney World, and in Chicago. On January 1st, 2023, the WGMB marched in the New Years Day Parade in London, England! He has served OMEA as the District VII President from 2015-2017, and has worked with the OMEA All-State Ensembles for the past seven years. Mr. Branch holds  degrees from Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University. 

Set List:

The Days of Wine and Roses - Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer, arr. Dave Barduhn

Teddy the Toad - Count Basie

Strasbourg/St. Denis - Roy Hargrove, arr. Jim Lang

Coconut Champagne - Denis DiBlasio, arr. Bob Lowden

Roster:

Saxes: Sophia Gonzalez, Dylan Baker, Nathan Wilson, Nick Peace, Trin Hinkle

Trombones: Holly Saunier, Noah Adkins, Savannah Baughman, Desmond Crabtree, Leah Pickering

Trumpets: Kate McDaniels, Kylie Dean, Jaden Forinash

Piano: Ayden Stevens 

Guitar: Kage Morehart 

Bass: Julia McDonnell 

Drums: Brennan Teare

School/Program Information:

The instrumental music program  in Cuyahoga Falls City Schools serves approximately 500 students each year in grades 6-12.  Students at CFHS  are enrolled in one of four concert bands and perform several concerts each year.  The ensembles all participate in Ohio Music Education Association adjudicated events and consistently earn Excellent and Superior ratings. In addition to the curricular ensembles, the department supports a variety of chamber music and extracurricular groups including numerous percussion ensembles, two jazz ensembles, marching band, pep band and pit orchestra. The Gold Tones is the premier jazz group at CFHS, made up of auditioned students in grades 9-12.  The group rehearses once to twice a week after school.  Each year, the Gold Tones attend multiple local jazz festivals, perform regularly at local venues, and host the annual Musical Horizons concert at CFHS.

Director Bio:

Jim Lang has been directing bands in Cuyahoga Falls City School District since 2013. His current responsibilities include directing 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands at Bolich Middle School and Roberts Middle School as well as extracurricular jazz ensembles at both Middle Schools and the CFHS Gold Tones.  As a woodwind specialist, he is an active performer and can be seen playing regularly with local big bands and in the pit orchestras of several local theater companies.  

Set List:

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Eddie Pola & George Wyle, arr. Paul Murtha

It’s All Right With Me - Cole Porter, arr. Carl Strommen

Lullaby of Birdland - George Shearing & George Weiss, arr. John Denton

Mambo Swing - Scotty Morris, arr. Roger Holmes 

Roster:

Alto Sax: Jack Beclay, Mariela Macias, Masyn Timmons

Tenor Sax: Lilly Mills, Sienna Peterson

Bari Sax: Jackson Larkin

Trombones: Justin Link - Bass, Matt Louis, Matt Nidy, Nathan Rolf

Trumpets: Elise Flinders, Luke Jones, Brett King, Katie Lustig, Michael Thompson

Piano: Charlotte Witmer-Rich

Bass: Ben Serafin

Drums/Percussion: Peter Como, Remy Kiner

Percussion: Sam Westervelt

School/Program Information:

The Mission of the Kenston Local School District is to educate each student to be prepared, resilient, and engaged citizens aspiring to academic and personal excellence.. The band program at Kenston consists of 349 students in grades 6-12. In addition to concert bands in those grade levels, and marching band at the high school, jazz is offered to students in grades 7-12. Students in the Kenston band program regularly participate in OMEA sanctioned events such as solo and ensemble and large group adjudicated events. Additionally, Kenston is fortunate to be represented by students in such groups as the OMEA All-State Band, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra.

Director Bio:

Jeff Link joined the faculty of the Kenston Local School District in 2004 and currently serves as the Director of Bands and K-12 Music Coordinator. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the Kenston Band program, Mr. Link coordinates performances and curriculum amongst all of the music staff in grades K-12. Mr. Link also currently serves as President of Ohio Music Education Association District 7.

Set List: 

Orange Sherbert - Sammy Nestico

My Favorite Things - Hammerstein & Rogers, arr. Holmes

A Natural Woman - Goffin, King, & Wexler, arr. Murtha

Groove Merchant - Richardson, arr. Sigler

Roster:

Alto Sax: Justin Bilsky, Max Levinson

Tenor Sax: Markos McCrackin, Jesse Vaytsman

Bari Sax: Farah Adhami

Trumpet: Nash Cook, Jaden Levinson, Dominic Shotwell, Thomas Przybycin, Tessa Kemelhar, Naashon Calliens, Henry Price, Catherine Snyder-Lovera

Trombone: Eddie Fatica, Adam Schmotzer, Aanya Chepyala, Asher Beachler, Bralyn Smith

Piano: Zachary Schwarz

Guitar: Ava Garcia

Bass: Taryn Michener, Lex Stearns

Drum Set: Matthew Arnold, Russell Melvey

Vibes/Percussion: Asher Leska

Vocals: Sofia Saab

School/Program Information:

The Orange City School District is a suburban district in eastern Cuyahoga County and serves students from the communities of Hunting Valley, Moreland Hills, Orange Village, Pepper Pike, and Woodmere. Approximately 2100 students are educated in three schools: Moreland Hills Elementary (K-5), Brady Middle (6-8), and Orange High School (9-12). Orange High School serves approximately 600 students in grades 9-12 and offers over 20 Advanced Placement courses. 98% of the Orange HS Class of 2017 matriculated to college and had an average SAT Score of 1235 and ACT Score of 24.9.

Instrumental music instruction begins in 5th grade. 5th grade band students receive one 30-minute lesson per week and a full band experience for one hour each week in May. The middle school bands (6, 7, 8) each meet daily for a 40-minute class period. All middle school students are required to take band, choir, orchestra, or general music. The Brady middle school Jazz Band meets once per week for 90 minutes, and is open to all 7th and 8th grade students. At Orange HS, band meets daily for a 50-minute period. During the 1st grading period all OHS band students are in the Lion Marching Band. The 2nd through 4th grading periods have band students placed into auditioned concert bands, the Orange Symphonic Band and Orange Wind Ensemble. Both of these groups regularly attend OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Events. Jazz Band meets two days per week, after school, from early November through late April.

The bands at Orange have received numerous awards and accolades over the years. Recently, the Orange Wind Ensemble performed at the University of Akron, Kent State University, Capital University, and Severance Hall. Recently, the Marching Band has performed in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, on Fox 8 News, and at the New Orleans Sugar Bowl and Parade. The jazz band has performed at STEM CON in Cleveland, the Lakeland Jazz Festival, and is an annual participant in the Tri-C Jazz Fest.

Director Bio:

Brandon DuVall is currently in his 9th year teaching Instrumental Music in the Orange City Schools. DuVall holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Educational Administration with Principal Licensure from Kent State University. Brandon previously taught band in the Cuyahoga Falls City School District from 2001 - 2015. At Orange, Mr. DuVall is the District Music Coordinator. His teaching assignment includes 5th grade band, 6th/7th/8th grade middle school bands, marching band, OHS Jazz Band, and the Orange Wind Ensemble. DuVall’s professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu, Delta Omicron, American School Band Director’s Association, and life membership in Kappa Kappa Psi. Brandon plays saxophone in the NEO Jazz Orchestra, an Akron-area big band. He is on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Music Education Association.